Mexico wonders 'what if?' amid party and vigilance before England match

Mexico City buzzed with anticipation as thousands of fans flocked to FIFA Fan Festivals and stadium entrances on Sunday for the World Cup match between Mexico and England. The atmosphere was a vibrant mix of festive celebration and cautious security, with families and friends gathering around public screens and heading towards the stadium.

Green jerseys, tricolor face paint, and enthusiastic chants filled the air, but they were accompanied by orderly queues, security checkpoints, road closures, and a visible presence of police, paramedics, and civil protection personnel. These measures aimed to manage crowds and ensure smooth entry and exit.

The FIFA Fan Festival in the Zócalo, designed to hold up to 55,000 people, and the areas around the Angel of Independence monument and Paseo de la Reforma, where up to two million fans were expected if Mexico won, were prepared for large gatherings. However, the day's festivities were tempered by warnings.

The U.S. Embassy advised its citizens to exercise extreme caution and avoid large crowds, citing previous incidents. Mexican authorities also urged self-care due to forecasts of heavy rain. These warnings followed earlier celebrations that resulted in four deaths, three from asphyxiation and one from cardiac arrest, along with injuries.

To prevent overwhelming crowds, the city government deployed over 17,000 police officers and medical personnel. They also expanded the dry law to restrict alcohol sales, banned fireworks, and limited access to the Angel of Independence to 25,000 people. Dozens of screens were set up across the city to disperse crowds and ease pressure on Reforma Avenue, which has become a focal point for national celebrations and, consequently, a source of concern over stampedes.

Around the stadium, the excitement was palpable, with fans singing and holding up their phones. For many, England represented not just a formidable opponent but a symbolic hurdle for a national team that, playing at home, had reignited an old hope. Mexico entered the match after defeating Ecuador, while England advanced by overcoming the Democratic Republic of Congo. The winner would face the victor of the Brazil-Norway game in the quarterfinals, as Mexican fans hoped to finally break the "curse of the fifth game."